Madhesh Province () is a

province of Nepal A province is an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions outside Italy. The term ''provin ...

in the

Terai The Terai or Tarai is a lowland region in parts of southern Nepal and northern India that lies to the south of the outer foothills of the Himalayas, the Sivalik Hills and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. This lowland belt is characterised by ...

region with an area of covering about 6.5% of the country's total area. It has a population of 6,126,288 as per the

2021 Nepal census The 2021 Nepal Census was the twelfth nationwide census of Nepal conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics. The census was originally scheduled from 8 June to 22 June 2021, but was postponed to November 2021 due to a surge in COVID-19 case ...

, making it Nepal's most densely populated province and the smallest province by area. It borders

Koshi Pradesh Koshi Province () is an autonomous province of Nepal adopted by the Constitution of Nepal on 20 September 2015. It covers an area of , about 17.5% of the country's total area. With the industrial city of Biratnagar as its capital, the province i ...

to the east and the north,

Bagmati Province Bagmati Province (, ''Bāgmatī pradēśa'') is one of the seven Provinces of Nepal, provinces of Nepal established by the constitution of Nepal. Bagmati is Nepal's second-most populous province and fifth largest province by area. It is bordered ...

to the north, and

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

’s

Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...

state to the south and the west. The border between

Chitwan National Park Chitwan National Park is the first national park of Nepal. It was established in 1973 as the Royal Chitwan National Park and was granted the status of a World Heritage Site in 1984. It covers an area of in the Terai of south-central Nepal. It ra ...

and

Parsa National Park Parsa National Park is a national park in the Terai of south-central Nepal covering an area of in the Parsa, Makwanpur and Bara Districts and ranging in elevation from in the Sivalik Hills. It was established as a wildlife reserve in 1984 and ...

acts as the provincial boundary in the west, and the

Kosi River The Kosi or Koshi is a transboundary river which flows through China, Nepal and India. It drains the northern slopes of the Himalayas in Tibet and the southern slopes in Nepal. From a major confluence of tributaries north of the Chatra Gorge o ...

forms the provincial border in the east. The province includes eight districts, from Parsa in the west to

Saptari Saptari (), is Located in the easternmost part of Madhesh Province, is one of the List of districts of Nepal, seventy-seven districts of Nepal. Its district headquarter is Rajbiraj. Saptari is an Terai#Outer Terai, Outer Terai district. This dist ...

in the east. It is a centre for religious and cultural tourism.Rastriya Samachar Samiti (2004)
"More Indian tourists visit Janakpurdham"
Himalayan Times, 17 January 2004.

Etymology

The word ''madhesh'' is thought to be derived from the

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

''madhya desh'' (मध्य देश), literally the middle country, which refers to "the central region, the country lying between the Himalaya and the

Vindhya mountains The Vindhya Range (also known as Vindhyachal) () is a complex, discontinuous chain of mountain ridges, hill ranges, highlands and plateau escarpments in west-central India. Technically, the Vindhyas do not form a single mountain range in the ...

". However, in the context of Nepal, ''Madhesh'' refers to the region in the Nepal Terai located south of the

Siwalik Hills The Sivalik Hills, also known as Churia Hills, are a mountain range of the outer Himalayas. The literal translation of "Sivalik" is 'tresses of Shiva'. The hills are known for their numerous fossils, and are also home to the Soanian Middle Pale ...

. Madhesh has also been defined as the cultural and linguistic space existing as a basis for identity among the people of the Terai.

History

Madhesh Province was founded with the provisional name Province No. 2 in September 2015 in accordance with Schedule 4 of the Constitution of Nepal. It received its current name on 17 January 2022, when the provincial assembly declared

Janakpur Janakpurdham or Janakpur (), is the capital city of Madhesh Province. This sub-metropolitan city is a central hub for the Maithili language, as well as for religious and cultural tourism in Nepal. The city was founded in the early 18th centur ...

as its capital.

Geography

As per Central Bureau of Statistics, Madhesh Province covers about of Nepal's total area of . With 6,114,600 inhabitants as of 2021, it is Nepal's second most populous province. Madhesh Province is surrounded by the

Chitwan District Chitwan District (, , ) is one of seventy-seven districts of Nepal, and takes up the southwestern corner of Bagmati Province. Bharatpur, largest city of Nepal after Kathmandu, is its administrative centre. It covers , and in 2011 had a popul ...

to the west,

Makwanpur District Makwanpur District (; ), in Bagmati Province, earlier a part of Narayani Zone, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The city of Hetauda serves as the district headquarters and also as the provincial headquarters. The district covers a ...

and

Sindhuli District Sindhuli District (), a part of the Bagmati Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal, a landlocked country located in South Asia. The district, with Sindhulimadhi Kamalamai as its headquarters, covers an area of . As per the 20 ...

and

Udayapur District Udayapur District (, is one of the 14 districts of Koshi Province in eastern Nepal. The district, with Triyuga as its district headquarters, covers an area of and in 2001 had a population of 287,689, in 2011 of 317,532, in 2021 of 342,773 Rive ...

to the north,

Sunsari District Sunsari District is one of 14 districts in Koshi province of eastern Nepal. The district is located in the eastern part of the Outer Terai and covers an area of . According to the 2011 Nepal census, the population was 753,328. The district head ...

to the east, and

to the south. The province has of

arable land Arable land (from the , "able to be ploughed") is any land capable of being ploughed and used to grow crops.''Oxford English Dictionary'', "arable, ''adj''. and ''n.''" Oxford University Press (Oxford), 2013. Alternatively, for the purposes of a ...

, making it the country's most agriculture-dominated province. The west of the province contains part of

, while part of

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is a protected area in the Terai of eastern Nepal covering of wetlands in the Sunsari District, Sunsari, Saptari District, Saptari and Udayapur Districts. It comprises extensive reed beds and freshwater marshes i ...

lies within the east. The province is biodiverse, and is crossed by migrating elephants.

Climate

Demographics

According to the 2021 Nepal census, the province has a population of 6,114,600: 3,065,751 males and 3,048,849 females. The province with 20.97% of the country's population has the second-highest population after

in the country, and is the densest province in the country with a density of 633 people per square kilometre.

Ethnic groups

Maithils Maithils (Devanagari: मैथिल), also known as Maithili people, are an Indo-Aryan peoples, Indo-Aryan cultural and ethno-linguistic group from the Indian subcontinent, who speak the Maithili language as their native language. They inhabit ...

are the largest

ethnolinguistic group An ethnolinguistic group (or ethno-linguistic group) is a group that is unified by both a common ethnicity and language. Most ethnic groups share a first language. However, "ethnolinguistic" is often used to emphasise that language is a major bas ...

Yadav Yadavs are a grouping of non-elite, peasant-pastoral Quote: "The Yadavs were traditionally a low-to-middle-ranking cluster of pastoral-peasant castes that have become a significant political force in Uttar Pradesh (and other northern states l ...

is the largest group among the Madhesi people in the province making up around 15.2% of the population.

Muslims Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

are the second largest group making up 13% of the population.

Teli Teli is a caste traditionally occupied in the oil pressing and trade in India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Members may be either Hindu or Muslim; Muslim Teli are called Roshandaar or Teli Malik. India's Prime minister Narendra Modi is from Teli c ...

(5.3%), Kushwaha(koeri) (4.5%),

Chamar Chamar (or Jatav) is a community classified as a Scheduled Caste under modern India's Reservation in India, system of affirmative action that originated from the group of trade persons who were involved in leather tanning and shoemaking. They a ...

(4.4%),

Kurmi Kurmi is traditionally a non-elite tiller caste in the lower Gangetic plain of India, especially southern regions of Awadh, eastern Uttar Pradesh and parts of Bihar and Jharkhand. The Kurmis came to be known for their exceptional work ethic, ...

(3.0%),

Musahar Musahar or Mushahar () are a Dalit community found in the eastern Gangetic plain and the Terai. They are also known as Rishidev, Sada, Manjhi, ''Banbasi''. The other names of the Musahar are Bhuiyan and Rajawar. Origins and history Etymolo ...

(2.9%),

Dusadh The Paswan, also known as Dusadh, are a Dalit community from eastern India. They are found mainly in the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. The Urdu word ''Paswan'' means bodyguard or "one who defends". The origin of the word, per th ...

(2.79%),

Mallaah The Mallaah are the traditional boatmen and fishermen tribes or communities found in North India, East India, Northeastern India and Pakistan. A significant number of Mallaah are also found in Nepal and Bangladesh. In the Indian state of Bihar ...

(2.26%),

Maithil Brahmin Maithil Brahmins are the Indo-Aryan Hindu Brahmin community originating from the Mithila region and original inhabitants of Southern Nepal and bordering regions of India that comprises Madhesh Province & some areas of Koshi Province in Nepal ...

(2.2%), and

Karan Kayastha Karan Kayastha is a community of Kayasthas that inhabit Orissa and the Mithila region, a region now divided between India and Nepal. Origin According to '' Manu'', a Hindu scripture, the Karans are regarded as bratya (degraded) Kshatriyas. ...

(1.5%) are other Madhesi pandit (8.0) groups in the province.

Bahun Bahun (), also known as Hill Brahmins, are a Brahmin varna among the Khas of Nepal. They are a sub-caste of the Kanyakubja Brahmin while their origins are from Kannauj and the Himalayan belt of South Asia. According to the 2011 Nepal censu ...

and

Chhetri Chhetri (Kshetri, Kshettri, Kshetry or Chhettri), ( ; IAST: ''Kṣetrī'') historically called Kshettriya or Kshetriya or Khas are Nepali language, Nepali speaking people historically associated with the warrior class and administration, some of ...

are the largest

Khas Arya Khas peoples or Khas Tribes, (; ) popularly known as Khashiya are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group native to the Himalayan region of the Indian subcontinent, in what is now the South Asian country of Nepal, as well as the Indian states ...

groups in the province making up 2.34% and 1.99% of the population, respectively. Tharu (5.27%) and

Dhanuk The Dhanuk is an ethnic group found in India. In Bihar where they are significantly present, they have been categorised as the "lower backwards", along with several other castes constituting 32% of the state's population. In recent times they h ...

(3.49%) is the largest non-Madhesi, non-Khas Arya group followed by Tamang (2.17%).

Languages

The

Maithili language Maithili ( , ) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in parts of India and Nepal. It is native to the Mithila region, which encompasses parts of the eastern Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand as well as Nepal's Koshi Province, Koshi and Madhesh P ...

is spoken by 45.36% of the total population of the province.

Bhojpuri Bhojpuri may refer to: * Bhojpuri language, an Indo-Aryan language of India and Nepal * Bhojpuri grammar, grammatical rules of the language * Bhojpuri nouns, nouns of the language * Bhojpuri people, people who speak the language * Bhojpuri region ...

is spoken by 18.81% and

Bajjika Bajjika is an Indo-Aryan language variety spoken in parts of Bihar, India and in Nepal. It is also classified as a dialect of Maithili language and is known as Western Maithili. Territory and speakers Bajjika language is spoken in the north-w ...

is spoken by 18.44% of the population. Nepali is the province's official language, but is spoken as mother tongue by only 5.76% of the population. Tharu (4.17%),

Urdu Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...

(4.08%), and Tamang (1.65%) are other languages spoken by a minority of the population. The Language Commission of Nepal has recommended Maithili, Bhojpuri and Bajjika as official languages of the province, and Urdu, Tharu and Tamang as additional official languages for specific regions and purposes in the province.

Religion

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...

is the most followed religion in the province, being followed by 84.24% of the population.

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

is the second largest religion with 13.28% of the population being Muslims, and

Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

is followed by 2.21% of the population.

Government and administration

Executive

The Governor acts as the head of the province while the Chief Minister is the head of the provincial government. The present Governor and Chief Minister are

Sumitra Bhandari Sumitra Subedi Bhandari () is a currently serving as the Governor of Madhesh Province. She was appointed Governor, as per the Article 163 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal by the President Ram Chandra Poudel on the recommendation of the Council o ...

and

Satish Kumar Singh Satish Kumar Singh is a Nepalese politician who is serving as the 3rd and current Chief Minister of Madhesh Province since 7 June 2024. He is very first Chief Minister from the Janamat Party after the creation of Madhesh Provincial Assembly in ...

respectively.

Legislative

The province has 107 provincial assembly constituencies and 32 constituencies. Madhesh Province has a

unicameral Unicameralism (from ''uni''- "one" + Latin ''camera'' "chamber") is a type of legislature consisting of one house or assembly that legislates and votes as one. Unicameralism has become an increasingly common type of legislature, making up nearly ...

legislature, like all of the other provinces in Nepal. The term length of provincial assembly is five years. The

Provincial Assembly of Madhesh Province The Madhesh Provincial Assembly ( Nepali/ Maithili/ Bhojpuri: मधेश प्रदेश सभा) is a unicameral governing and law making body of Madhesh Province, one of the seven Provinces in Nepal, The assembly is seated in the provin ...

is temporarily housed at the District Education Office in

Judiciary

The Chief Judge of the Janakpur High Court is the head of the judiciary. The acting chief justice is Binod Sharma.

Administrative subdivisions

Madhesh Province is divided into eight districts, which are listed below. A district is administrated by the head of the

District Coordination Committee The District Coordination Committee (, abbreviation: DCC) was formed on March 14, 2017, to replace the existing district development committee. Each of the 77 districts in Nepal have their own district coordination committees in. The Head of ...

and the District Administration Officer. The districts are further divided into municipalities or rural municipalities. The municipalities include one metropolitan city, three sub-metropolitan cities, and 73 municipalities. There are 59 rural municipalities in the province.

Infrastructure

Roadways

Mahendra Highway Mahendra Highway or NH01 (previously: H01) (), also called East-West Highway (), runs across the Terai geographical region of Nepal, from Mechinagar in the east to Bhim Datta in the west, cutting across the entire width of the country. It is th ...

is the major highway in the province running longitudinally across the province. The

Tribhuvan Highway The Tribhuvan Highway or NH 02() connects the outskirts of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, with Birganj/Raxaul on the Nepal-India border. National Highway 28 (India), NH 28 and National Highway 28A (India), NH 28A links Raxaul with Lucknow/Bara ...

also crosses a part of the province and connects it to the

Kathmandu Valley The Kathmandu Valley (), also known as the Nepal Valley or Nepa Valley (, Newar language, Nepal Bhasa: 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑑅 𑐐𑐵𑑅, नेपाः गाः), National Capital Area, is a bowl-shaped valley located in the Himalayas, Hima ...

and India.

Railways

Railway projects are managed by

Nepal Railways The Nepal Railway Company Ltd. (in short Nepal Railway), reporting mark: NRW / ने. रे) is a state-owned company under Department of Railways (DORW) which operates passenger train services in Nepal. It is the only train service provide ...

. Janakpur has been proposed as the main station for the long east–west metro railway project that is planned to be extended to India and China for connecting Nepal Railways with

Indian Railways Indian Railways is a state-owned enterprise that is organised as a departmental undertaking of the Ministry of Railways (India), Ministry of Railways of the Government of India and operates India's national railway system. , it manages the fou ...

and

China Railway China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., doing business as China Railway (CR), is the national passenger and freight railroad corporation of the China, People's Republic of China. China Railway operates passenger and freight Rail transport in Chi ...

Airports

Madhesh Province has three domestic airports: *

Rajbiraj Airport Rajbiraj Airport is a domestic airport located in Rajbiraj serving Saptari District, a district in Madhesh Province in Nepal. After eleven years of complete shut down, the airport resumed its operations on 23 May 2018. The airport is used by ...

Rajbiraj Rajbiraj () is a mid-sized municipality located in the south-eastern part of Madhesh Province of Nepal. The city is also called the "Pink City of Nepal" because the township was designed in 1938 based on influence from the "Indian Pink City" Ja ...

Janakpur Airport Janakpur Airport is an airport serving Janakpur, a city in Mithila region of Nepal and the administrative headquarters of the Dhanusa District in Madhesh Province in Nepal. Facilities The airport is at an elevation of above mean sea level. It ...

in Janakpur *

Simara Airport Simara Airport () is a domestic airport located in Jitpur Simara serving Bara District, a district in Madhesh Province in Nepal. It also serves Birgunj, Nepal's fifth biggest city. History The airport was established on 4 July 1958, althoug ...

in Pipara Simara close to Birgunj and Kalaiya Under construction Airport: *

Nijgadh International Airport Nijgadh International Airport () is a proposed hub-airport, located in Kolhabi, directly to the south of Kathmandu, near the town of Nijgadh in Madhesh Federal Province, Nepal. It is targeted to be completed by 2025 with an estimated investmen ...

Culture

Mithila Paag

The Paag is a headdress in the

Mithila region Mithila (), also known as Tirhut, Tirabhukti and Mithilanchal, is a geographical and cultural region of the Indian subcontinent bounded by the Mahananda River in the east, the Ganges in the south, the Gandaki River in the west and by the foothil ...

Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...

and

worn by

Maithil Maithils (Devanagari: मैथिल), also known as Maithili people, are an Indo-Aryan cultural and ethno-linguistic group from the Indian subcontinent, who speak the Maithili language as their native language. They inhabit the Mithila regio ...

people. It is a symbol of honour and respect and a significant part of Maithil culture. The Paag dates back to pre-historic times when it was made of plant leaves. It exists today in a modified form. The Paag is wore by the whole Maithil community. The colour of the Paag also carries a lot of significance. The red Paag is worn by the

bridegroom A bridegroom (often shortened to groom) is a man who is about to be married or who is newlywed. When marrying, the bridegroom's future spouse is usually referred to as the bride. A bridegroom is typically attended by a best man and grooms ...

and by those who are undergoing the sacred thread rituals. Paag of mustard colour is donned by those attending wedding ceremonies and the elders wear a white Paag.

Paintings

Madhubani art Madhubani art (also known as Mithila art) is a style of painting practiced in the Mithila region of India and Nepal. It is named after the Madhubani district of Bihar, India, which is where it originated. Jitwarpur, Ranti and Rasidpur are the t ...

is practiced in the

Mithila Mithila may refer to: Places * Mithilā, a synonym for the ancient Videha state ** Mithilā (ancient city), the ancient capital city of Videha * Mithila (region), a cultural region (historical and contemporary), now divided between India and Nepa ...

region. It was traditionally created by the women of different communities of the Mithila region. This painting as a form of wall art was practiced widely throughout the region; the more recent development of painting on paper and canvas originated among the villages around Madhubani, and it is these latter developments that may correctly be referred to as ''Madhubani art.''

Artists create these paintings using a variety of mediums, including their own fingers, or twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks. The paint is created using natural dyes and pigments. The paintings are characterised by their eye-catching geometrical patterns.

Cuisine

Maithil cuisine and

Bhojpuri cuisine Bhojpuri cuisine is a style of food preparation common among the Bhojpuri people of Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh in India, and also the Terai region of Nepal. Bhojpuri foods are mostly mild and tend to be less hot in terms of spic ...

are part of

Nepalese cuisine Nepali cuisine comprises a variety of cuisines based upon ethnicity, alluvial soil and Geography of Nepal#Climate, climate relating to cultural diversity and Geography of Nepal, geography of Nepal and neighboring regions of Sikkim and Gorkha ...

. Maithil is a culinary style which originated in Mithila while Bhojpuri cuisine originated in the Bhojpuri region. Some traditional dishes of Madhesh are: *

Curd Curd is obtained by Denaturation (biochemistry), coagulating milk in a sequential process called curdling. It can be a final dairy product or the first stage in cheesemaking. The coagulation can be caused by adding rennet, a Kefir cheese, ...

flattened rice Poha, chivda, chiwda or flattened rice is a preparation of rice made from raw, toasted, or parboiled rice grains pounded into flat flakes. It is traditional to many rice-cultivating cultures in Southeast Asia and South Asia. It is also known as r ...

* Litti Chokha * Vegetable of

Taro Taro (; ''Colocasia esculenta'') is a root vegetable. It is the most widely cultivated species of several plants in the family Araceae that are used as vegetables for their corms, leaves, stems and Petiole (botany), petioles. Taro corms are a ...

Ghugni Ghugni or guguni ( Bengali:ঘুগনি, Bhojpuri:𑂐𑂳𑂐𑂳𑂢𑂲, Odia: ଘୁଗ୍ନି , romanized: Ghughunē) is a dish made of peas or chickpeas in Nepal, India and Bangladesh. Different variations of the dish use different ...

pickles Pickle, pickled or Pickles may refer to: Food * Pickle, a food that has undergone pickling * Pickled cucumber * Pickle, a sweet, vinegary pickled chutney popular in Britain, such as Branston Pickle, also known as "sweet pickle" or "ploughman's ...

made of fruits and vegetables which are generally mixed with ingredients like salt, spices, and vegetable oils and are set to mature in a moistureless medium. * Tarua of

Coccinia grandis ''Coccinia grandis'', the ivy gourd, also known as scarlet gourd, is a tropical vine. It grows primarily in tropical climates and is commonly found in the Indian states where it forms a part of the local cuisine. ''Coccinia grandis'' is cooked ...

* Bada * Badee *

Yogurt Yogurt (; , from , ; also spelled yoghurt, yogourt or yoghourt) is a food produced by bacterial Fermentation (food), fermentation of milk. Fermentation of sugars in the milk by these bacteria produces lactic acid, which acts on milk protein to ...

* Irhar * Pidukia (also known as

Gujia Gujhia, also known as Gughara, Pedakiya, Purukiya, Karanji, Kajjikayalu, Somas, and Karjikayi, is a sweet, deep-fried pastry that is a popular dessert in the Indian subcontinent. Etymology The earliest mention of gujiya dates back to the 13t ...

) which is basically dumplings. *

Foxnut ''Euryale ferox'', commonly known as prickly waterlily, makhana, or Gorgon plant, is a species of water lily found in southern and eastern Asia, and the only extant member of the genus ''Euryale''. The edible seeds, called fox nuts or ''makhana' ...

payas *

Anarsa Anarsa or Hilsa is a rice-based biscuit in Nepal and the Indian states of Bihar and Maharastra, especially in Gaya located in Bihar. It is commonly associated with the Hindu festival of Diwali (Tihar) in Nepal, Maharashtra and Bihar, along with ...

Bagiya Bagiya (also called Pithha) is a delicacy of the Maithils, Tharu and Dhimal communities of India and Nepal. It is a steamed dumpling that consists of an external covering of rice flour and an inner content of sweet substances such like chaku, v ...

Dances

Jhijhiya

Jhijhiya is a cultural dance from the

Jhijhiya is mostly performed at time of

Dusshera Vijayadashami (), more commonly known as Dassahra in Hindi, and also known as Dashāhra or Dashain in Bhojpuri, Maithili and Nepali, is a major Hindu festival celebrated every year at the end of Durga Puja and Navarahtri. It is observed on ...

, in dedication to Durga

Bhairavi Bhairavi () is a Hindu goddess, described as one of the Mahāvidyas, the ten avatars of the mother goddess. She is the consort of Bhairava ( a form of Shiva). Etymology The name ''Bhairavi'' means "terrifying" or "awe-inspiring". Iconogra ...

, the goddess of victory. While performing jhijhiya, women put lanterns made of clay on their head and they balance it while they dance.

Domkach

Domkach is a folk dance performed in

and Bhojpur regions of Madhesh Province. Jat Jatin Jat Jatin is based on folk songs of Mithila and Tharu community which they perform from Shrawan Purnima to Bhadra Purnima. It is based on the love story of hero jat and heroine Jatin and their lives. Gauna dance The Dance is based in Mithila Tradition and popular in Janakpur region of Nepal. This dance is performed in the religious occasions.

Politics

As a political center of the country, Madhesh Province is home to prominent leaders like

Ram Baran Yadav Ram Baran Yadav (; Nepali: डा. राम वरण यादव; born 4 February 1948) is a Nepali politician and physician who served as the first president of Nepal from 23 July 2008 to 29 October 2015, following the declaration of repub ...

Bimalendra Nidhi Bimalendra Nidhi (Maithili language, Maithili/Nepali language, Nepali/Devanagari: बिमलेन्द्र निधि ) is a Nepali politician who serves as a member of the House of Representatives (Nepal), House of Representatives and ...

and

Pradeep Giri Pradeep Giri (6 November 1945 – 20 August 2022) was a Nepali politician from Siraha district a member of the House of Representatives from the Nepali Congress. He was also part of the party's central committee. Personal life Giri was born i ...

from the

Nepali Congress The Nepali Congress ( ; Abbreviation, abbr. NC), colloquially the Congress Party, or simply the Congress, is a Social democracy, social democratic List of political parties in Nepal, political party in Nepal and the largest party in the country ...

Mahantha Thakur Mahantha Thakur (), is a Nepalese people, Nepalese politician and president of Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, Nepal, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party Nepal, as well as the former treasurer of Nepali Congress Party. He has served as minister in various min ...

from

Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, Nepal The Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, Nepal () is the tenth largest political party in Nepal. The party has a significant presence in Madhesh Province and Lumbini Province of Nepal. The party's election symbol is a bicycle. The party was officially r ...

Matrika Yadav Matrika Prasad Yadav (), is a Nepalese politician. He was the Industry, Commerce and Supplies Minister of Nepal in Second Oli cabinet and Minister of Land Reform in First Dahal cabinet. He is a leader of Nepal Communist Party The Nepa ...

from

CPN (Maoist Centre) The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) (), abbreviated CPN (Maoist Centre) or CPN (MC), is the third largest political party in Nepal and a member party of Samajbadi Morcha. It was founded in 1994 after breaking away from the Communi ...

and Dharmanath Prasad Sah,

Bansidhar Mishra Bansidhar Mishra ( Nepali/ Maithili:वंशीधर मिश्र) is a Nepali politician of CPN (Unified Socialist). He is also a member of the standing committee of the party. He was a member of the House of Representatives from Rautahat ...

Ram Chandra Jha Ram Chandra Jha ( Nepali: राम चन्द्र झा) is a Nepali politician of CPN (Unified Socialist). He is a member of the party's secretariat, the highest decision-making body within the organization. Jha also served as member of ...

from the

CPN (Unified Socialist) The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) (), abbreviated as CPN (Unified Socialist) is a political party in Nepal led by former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal. As of July 2023, the party leads Socialist Front and is an important ally ...

who have been ministers at various point of time and are still active at National level. In local level,

Nepali congress The Nepali Congress ( ; Abbreviation, abbr. NC), colloquially the Congress Party, or simply the Congress, is a Social democracy, social democratic List of political parties in Nepal, political party in Nepal and the largest party in the country ...

remains the single largest party.

Notable people

* Ruby Rana, First Miss Nepal, crowned in 1994 * Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, First President of Nepal *

, MP and Former deputy prime minister *

Pradeep Yadav (Nepalese politician) Pradeep Yadav () (born 7 May 1975) is a Nepali politician and a member of the Federal Parliament of Nepal since 2017. He is currently serving as the Minister of Water Supply of Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of ...

, Former Minister for Health and Population of Nepal, currently serving as the Minister of Water Supply of Nepal. *

Madhav Kumar Nepal Madhav Kumar Nepal (, ; born 6 March 1953), is a Nepalese politician and former Prime Minister of Nepal. He served as prime minister from 25 May 2009 to 6 February 2011. He previously served as the Deputy Prime Minister along with the charges o ...

, Former Prime minister *

Upendra Yadav Upendra Yadav (; born 12 November 1960) is a Nepalese politician who has twice served as Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal and also as the chairman of the People's Socialist Party, Nepal from 2020 until 2023. He was previously a Minister of Hea ...

, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister *

VTEN Samir Ghising, better known by his stage name VTEN, is a Nepalese rapper. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and prominent figures in NEPHOP. He started gaining popularity after the release of his breakthrough song ''"Churot"'' ...

, Rapper from Rautahat *

, Former socialist politician and respected socialist thinker * Chitra Lekha Yadav, Former education minister, currently ambassador of Nepal in Australia. * Bina Jaiswal, Nepalese Politician, Rastriya Prajatantra party *

Aashiq Ali Mikrani Aashiq Ali Mikrani () was one of the thirty Madheshi martyrs of the Terai/Madhes movement of 2007 and 2008. He was killed during the Madhesh movement in 2007, along with 26 others; 6 more were killed in the second Madhesh movement agitation of ...

, martyr of the Terai/Madhesh movement *

Nanyadeva Nanyadeva (IAST: ') was the founder of the Karnat dynasty of Mithila. He established his capital in Simraungadh and ruled the greater Mithila region for 50 years. He is known for his patronage of scholars. He began to rule Mithila from the cita ...

, (1097-1147CE) Founder of Karnat dynasty, Simraungadh-Bara *

Gangadeva Gangadeva (also known as Gangeyadeva) was the second ruler of the Karnat dynasty of Mithila. He succeeded his father Nanyadeva as king in 1147 and ruled until 1187. Rule There is controversy surrounding the succession of the throne of Mithila ...

, king of simraungadh *

Harisimhadeva Harisimhadeva (also called Hari Singh Deva) was a King of the Karnat dynasty who ruled the Mithila (region), Mithila region of modern-day parts of North Bihar in India and South Nepal. He reigned from 1304 to 1325. He was the last king of the Karn ...

, (until 1324CE), Last ruler of karnat Dynasty who fled to Kathmandu valley *

, Veteran Madheshi politician and leader of the Loktantrik Samajwadi Party *

Lalbabu Raut Lalbabu Raut, also known as Mohamed Lalbabu raut ( Nepali/ Maithili/Bhojpuri: लालबाबु राउत), is the first Chief Minister of Madhesh Province, one of the seven federal Provinces of Nepal. He is the parliamentary party leader ...

, First Chief Minister of Madhesh Province, representing the People’s Socialist Party, Nepal *

Bibek Yadav Bibek Kumar Yadav ( Nepali: बिबेक कुमार यादव, born 7 October 2003) is a Nepalese cricketer who plays for the Nepal national team. In February 2022, he was named in Nepal's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for the 2 ...

, Nepalese cricketer who has represented the national team in international matches * Anil Kumar Shah, A right-handed batsman from Janakpur, Sah has represented Nepal in international cricket and is a key player for the Madhesh Province cricket team *

Deepak Rauniyar Deepak Rauniyar (; born on 29 August 1978) is a Nepalese director, writer and producer. He is one of the few internationally acclaimed cinema directors from Nepal. He rose to prominence in 2012 as the director of ''Highway'', the first Nepali mo ...

, film director Fromm Saptari; he is best known for his movie Rajagunj *

Rabindra Jha Rabindra Jha (; born 2 March 1978), is a Nepalese actor, comedian, and scriptwriter also known for his work in Nepali entertainment industry. He has been referred to in the media as "Munna" Jha began his career with appearances in several telev ...

, a prominent Nepalese actor, comedian, and scriptwriter, widely recognized for his versatile performances in the Nepali entertainment industry. *

Najir Husen Mohamad Najir Husen(Nepali: नाजिर हुसेन), popularly known as Najir Husen, is a Nepalis, Nepalese film actor, known for his work in the Nepalese entertainment industry. One of the most critically acclaimed actors in Nepal, Huse ...

, Actor *

Santosh Shah Santosh Shah is a Nepalese chef based in London, known for competing in the UK's reality cookery TV series BBC MasterChef: The Professionals in 2020. Declared first runner up, Santosh is credited for popularising Nepalese cuisine in the UK and ...

, a distinguished Nepalese chef renowned for his significant contributions to promoting Nepalese cuisine on the international stage * Dhirendra Premarshi, Maithili poet and writer

References

Works cited

* * * {{Authority control 2 Mithila 2015 establishments in Nepal States and territories established in 2015